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HanWay Films
HanWay Films is a London-based international sales agent representing barrier-breaking, star-driven independent features across global film markets, with a current focus on original, high-concept cinema.
Current mandate
HanWay Films operates as a London-based international sales agent, representing independently financed features for territory-by-territory rights sales across global markets. The company's current mandate, as articulated by CEO Gabrielle Stewart, centers on projects that "break barriers in terms of originality" -- films with distinctive premises, emotional resonance, and the kind of star power that makes them attractive to international buyers. HanWay's slate tends toward high-concept, character-driven features that can travel across territories, with the company handling international rights while North American representation is typically managed by agency partners such as WME Independent or UTA Independent Film Group.\n\nRecent slate activity reflects this positioning. HanWay introduced "Hey Bear" to buyers at AFM, a high-concept feature described as star-driven, with Mia Goth, Dan Stevens, and Zach Galifianakis attached -- a cast configuration that Stewart publicly described as "the dream team to make us laugh, feel, and gasp with shock and horror." The company also recently added "The Julia Set" and "Extra Geography" to its represented titles. Earlier, HanWay aligned with "Lady," a Sundance-bound project from a debut filmmaker set in Lagos, with Stewart citing excitement about supporting "dynamic fresh talent." These titles collectively illustrate a slate that spans tonal registers, from genre-inflected horror-comedy to emerging-voice drama.\n\nMaterial reaches HanWay primarily through established producer relationships, festival positioning, and packaging by talent agencies. The company's documented involvement with Sundance titles and AFM introductions suggests that filmmakers with festival-ready or market-ready projects, particularly those with attached talent or a strong producer track record, represent the most visible pathway to the company's attention. No unsolicited filmmaker pathway is documented in tracked deal activity.
Signature peaks
- Hey Bear Star-Driven AFM Title — Introduced to international buyers at AFM with Mia Goth, Dan Stevens, and Zach Galifianakis attached.
- Lady Sundance Fresh Talent — HanWay backed debut filmmaker with Lagos-set drama, positioning it for Sundance audiences.
- The Julia Set + Extra Geography Recent Slate Additions — Two titles added to the HanWay represented slate within the tracked period.
Mandate dimensions
- Genre focus
- Drama
- Territory focus
- International sales
- Budget tier (observed)
- Not disclosed
- Access pattern
- Tracked deals show material reaching HanWay Films through talent agency packaging (with WME Independent and UTA Independent Film Group documented as North American counterparts on shared projects) and through festival positioning, including Sundance premieres. The company's AFM presence is a documented route by which titles are introduced to international buyers. No unsolicited filmmaker pathway is documented in ScriptMatch's tracked activity.
- Deal structure
- HanWay Films structures its business around international rights representation, selling territory-by-territory deals to distributors at film markets such as AFM. The company supports independently financed productions through pre-sale estimates and market introductions rather than direct script acquisition or production financing.
Recent representations
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Extra Geography
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The Julia Set
Market context
CEO Gabrielle Stewart's public positioning around originality and fresh talent signals HanWay is actively seeking high-concept independent films with the ambition to travel internationally.
HanWay Films operates as a London-based international sales agent, representing independently financed features for territory-by-territory rights sales across global markets. The company's current mandate, as articulated by CEO Gabrielle Stewart, centers on projects that "break barriers in terms of originality" -- films with distinctive premises, emotional resonance, and the kind of star power that makes them attractive to international buyers. HanWay's slate tends toward high-concept, character-driven features that can travel across territories, with the company handling international rights while North American representation is typically managed by agency partners such as WME Independent or UTA Independent Film Group.\n\nRecent slate activity reflects this positioning. HanWay introduced "Hey Bear" to buyers at AFM, a high-concept feature described as star-driven, with Mia Goth, Dan Stevens, and Zach Galifianakis attached -- a cast configuration that Stewart publicly described as "the dream team to make us laugh, feel, and gasp with shock and horror." The company also recently added "The Julia Set" and "Extra Geography" to its represented titles. Earlier, HanWay aligned with "Lady," a Sundance-bound project from a debut filmmaker set in Lagos, with Stewart citing excitement about supporting "dynamic fresh talent." These titles collectively illustrate a slate that spans tonal registers, from genre-inflected horror-comedy to emerging-voice drama.\n\nMaterial reaches HanWay primarily through established producer relationships, festival positioning, and packaging by talent agencies. The company's documented involvement with Sundance titles and AFM introductions suggests that filmmakers with festival-ready or market-ready projects, particularly those with attached talent or a strong producer track record, represent the most visible pathway to the company's attention. No unsolicited filmmaker pathway is documented in tracked deal activity.
Common questions about HanWay Films
What kind of films does HanWay Films represent?
HanWay Films represents independently financed features with strong international appeal. CEO Gabrielle Stewart has publicly emphasized a preference for projects that 'break barriers in terms of originality' -- high-concept, character-driven films with emotional depth. Recent slate titles range from star-driven genre-horror-comedy ('Hey Bear' with Mia Goth, Dan Stevens, and Zach Galifianakis) to debut-filmmaker drama ('Lady,' set in Lagos and positioned for Sundance). The company gravitates toward films that can travel across multiple international territories.
Does HanWay Films handle pre-sales for film financing?
HanWay operates as an international sales agent, meaning pre-sale estimates and territory deals are central to how the company supports production financing for the films it represents. Their involvement with independently financed, high-concept features -- introduced to buyers at markets like AFM -- reflects a model where international pre-sales help unlock or validate production budgets. Specific pre-sale terms for individual titles are not publicly disclosed in tracked deal data.
What film markets does HanWay Films work at?
HanWay Films is documented as active at the American Film Market (AFM), where the company introduced 'Hey Bear' to international buyers. The company's representation of Sundance-positioned titles such as 'Lady' also indicates engagement with the festival circuit as a launchpad for international sales. As a London-based international sales agent, HanWay is expected to operate across major markets including Cannes Marche and the European Film Market (EFM), though specific recent activity at those markets is not detailed in current tracked data.
How do I get my film in front of HanWay Films?
Tracked deal activity shows material reaching HanWay through established producer relationships, talent agency packaging (including WME Independent and UTA Independent Film Group on the North American side), and festival positioning. 'Lady' came to HanWay ahead of a Sundance premiere; 'Hey Bear' arrived with major talent already attached. No unsolicited filmmaker submission pathway is documented in ScriptMatch's tracked activity. Filmmakers with a producer partner, festival placement, or attached talent appear best positioned to enter HanWay's orbit.
What are HanWay Films' strongest territories?
HanWay Films handles international sales broadly, representing films for territory-by-territory rights deals across global markets. As a London-based company, they are well-positioned across European territories, and their slate of English-language star-driven features suggests strong reach in major English-speaking and Western European markets. Specific territory breakdowns or named deals by region are not detailed in current tracked data, but the company's AFM presence and international mandate indicate a wide territorial footprint.
Is HanWay Films currently active in the market?
Yes. HanWay Films shows a latest tracked signal as recently as September 2026, with 25 total records logged in the prior 12 months. The company introduced 'Hey Bear' to buyers at AFM and added titles including 'The Julia Set' and 'Extra Geography' to its slate within the tracked period. CEO Gabrielle Stewart has been publicly vocal about the company's appetite for original, barrier-breaking projects, suggesting active engagement with filmmakers and producers seeking international representation.
Adjacent buyers in this lane
- Fox Entertainment Global — Fox Entertainment Global is a recently launched international sales and licensing arm positioning it
- The Match Factory — The Match Factory is a leading international arthouse sales agent representing auteur-driven cinema
- Keshet International — Keshet International is the global distribution and format-licensing arm of Israel's Keshet Broadcas
- Films Boutique — Films Boutique is a Berlin-based international sales agency representing theatrical, festival-circui
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